GM kills current mild hybrid system

Mild hybrids just aren't selling

With inventory backing up on GM's mild hybrid vehicles, such as the Chevy Malibu and Saturn Aura hybrids, the General - or is it the Government - will stop producing these vehicles until they can be replaced with an upgraded mild hybrid system. The new mild hybrid system, to be launched summer of 2010, will utilize lithium-ion batteries.

Saturn Aura hybrid testimonials

Reviews and Testimonials of the Aura hybrid

Are you the owner of a Saturn Aura hybrid? Tell us about your experiences with the Aura hybrid.

What kind of gas mileage do you get in your Aura hybrid and in what kind of driving?

Any other issues with your Aura hybrid?

Add your Saturn Aura hybrid testimonial today.

2008 Malibu hybrid offers a mild increase in fuel economy?

Good drive, but what about the fuel economy?

Peter Valdes-Dapenz recently took a test-drive of the Chevy Malibu hybrid and he liked it - a whole lot better than his Saturn Aura hybrid test drive.

"When I reviewed the Saturn Aura Green Line back in July, I panned it. Acceleration was patchy and uneven with an on-off, slow-then-go feel. The four-cylinder engine sounded sickly and harsh. Braking was just as wobbly, requiring constant adjustments of pedal pressure to help compensate for the hybrid system's automatic downshifting."

The Malibu hybrid, however, has changed Peter's mind about GM's mild hybrid vehicles, "Acceleration was smooth and quiet. Braking also felt even and predictable. The improvements that make the new Malibu Hybrid so nice to drive have also been made to the Saturn Aura Hybrid. (Saturn is dropping the "Green Line" badge.)"

Top Safest Fuel Saving Cars

Tahoe and 5 other hybrids lead the pack

So, you want to save money on gas, but you also want to feel safe - it is your family, right? What could be more important?

No problem. CNNMoney has come up with 6 vehicles that save gas by providing great fuel economy while providing best in class safety, and 5 of those vehicles are hybrid vehicles.

The Saturn Aura hybrid, Honda Civic hybrid, Nissan Altima hybrid, Toyota Camry hybrid and the Chevy Tahoe hybrid and the Ford Taurus all provide great fuel economy for their class, while also providing excellent safety.

InsideLine chooses Camry as best hybrid sedan

Camry hybrid was "the obvious winner"

InsideLine recently completed a comparison of hybrid sedans, testing the Toyota Camry hybrid, the Saturn Aura hybrid and the Nissan Altima hybrid.

"It's the Camry's abundant features, comfortable ride and fuel-sipping efficiency that take it to the top of the podium in this test. Just like the standard Camry, the simple fact is the Camry Hybrid gives you a lot of car for your money."

Once again, Toyota proves it knows hybrid cars.

Still, the Nissan Altima hybrid did catch the attention of the testers at Edmunds. "Finally. A hybrid with decent steering and a responsive chassis. What took so long?" So, if you are willing to give up some fuel economy for sportier handling, then the Altima hybrid is worth a look in this segment.

The Aura hybrid, unfortunately, it just too much of a mild hybrid and achieved far less fuel economy than the other two hybrid sedans, especially in the city, where Camry hybrid was more than twice as fuel efficient as the Aura. However, for purely highway drivers, looking to spend as little as possible on a hybrid sedan, the Aura hybrid might work, especially if you are committed to GM products.

Saturn hybrids and GS450h not allowed in HOV

No carpool lane access for you

The EPA has determined that both the Saturn Vue hybrid and the Saturn Aura hybrid, in addition to the Lexus GS450h, will not be allowed the hybrid exemption for HOV access.

All other current hybrid vehicles retain HOV rights, at least as far as the Federal government is concerned. Some states, such as California, already have far stricter HOV access requirements.

Karl on Cars slams Saturn Aura hybrid

An exercise in marketing?

Back in March I called another journalist's Saturn Aura hybrid versus Toyota Prius comparison, nonsense. Even though it wasn't my comparison, some suggested I should compare the Toyota Camry hybrid to the Aura hybrid.

Why? It's still nonsense, but then again, I have hybrid a bias.

Karl on Cars recently tested the Camry hybrid, the Aura hybrid, and the Nissan Altima hybrid and stated, "the Aura got about 19 mpg, or about half what the Altima and Camry hybrids recorded. It was also slower than the other two cars, and our test car had a nasty high-pitched rattle coming out of the center stack area above 4,000 rpm. The upside would be that it costs less than the Altima or Camry Hybrids and the trunk isn't negatively impacted by its "hybrid" technology (though the Camry Hybrid's trunk is plenty large, too)."

Yet, Karl, whom isn't the biggest fan of hybrid vehicles, didn't stop there.

"The real tragedy here is that this car, like the last Accord Hybrid and the current LS 600h, is yet another example of the technology being used for marketing purposes rather than truly saving gas or cutting our dependence on foreign oil or reducing CO2 emissions or any of those other things that we're supposed to feel good about when buying a hybrid."

Now, my critics claim I'm paid off by Toyota, is Karl?

Vue hybrid going full, but what about the Aura and the Malibu?

A full future for this mild hybrid?

I'm not a very big fan of large SUVs. Even when hybrid technology is added to large SUVs, they are still only more fuel-efficient gas-guzzlers - in my opinion. Nonetheless, I can gladly endorse a Yukon hybrid over a conventional Yukon, for example. Still, I would prefer to see America morph into a liking for smaller SUVs.

Thus, I am very excited about the fact that GM will offer a full Saturn Vue hybrid in 2008. A Vue hybrid...(Finish: Vue hybrid going full, but what about the Aura and Malibu hybrids)

Aura hybrid versus the Prius? Nonsense!

GM's first hybrid sedan

Hybrid cars have become incredibly important buzz generators in the automotive world. Thus, I use the term hybrid vehicle very lightly when describing mild hybrids, such as the Saturn Vue hybrid or the upcoming Saturn Aura hybrid.

It's not that I hate these hybrid vehicles. In fact, if GM offered both mild hybrid and full hybrid versions of these vehicles - letting consumers choose their hybrid package - I'd be incredibly supportive of mild hybrid technology. Since this choice does not exist, I see GM's mild hybrids more as a PR effort, rather than a technology effort.

Finish Aura hybrid versus the Prius